Have you ever thought of the gas it requires to get food to the grocery?
Produce from big farms is harvested utilizing gas-powered machinery.
It’s then shipped – frequently 100s or even 1000s of miles – by plane or truck to your local store.
That’s a lot of fossil fuel for a head of lettuce!
Another consideration is the safety and nutrients in food. The longer food sits, the more probability there is that it will be exposed to dangerous bacterium like salmonella.
If food has been processed and transported for long distances, it’s typically sprayed with preservatives to keep it “fresh” during the lengthy journey. Fresh fruits and veggies are frequently coated with wax to keep them from drying out during shipping. Meanwhile, nutrients are lost as the foods sit for lengthy periods.
If you would like to bring down your food mileage, here are a few ideas that may help.
* Raise your personal food. This isn’t necessarily the large chore it might seem like initially. You do not need large sums of sunny acreage to establish a productive garden. If you do possess a moderately-sized or big yard, however, consider segmenting off part of it for a garden.
If not, try container gardening. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries are especially suited for pots or containers. Get creative; you do not need to spend a lot of money on commercial flower pots. Utilize flower boxes for lettuces, old pots or buckets for strawberries or tomatoes, and hanging baskets for cucumbers. Numerous herbs and even veggies may be raised inside in sunny windows.
* Forgo the imports where you are able to. Tropical fruit is, naturally, raised in the tropics, and unless you reside there, the tropics are a long way from home. This includes canned and dehydrated tropical fruits as well.
* Purchase locally produced food. Not only will you acquire seasonal veggies that are well suited to your body’s requirements, but you will support your local community. And, of course, you will keep down your food miles. As a matter of fact, if there’s a farm close where you are able to pick out your own produce, that is even better. Carpool with friends and collect your own produce by hand – no need for gas-guzzling harvesters.
* Speaking of seasonal produce, purchasing food when it is in season keeps down food miles. If you reside in NY, for instance, and you desire strawberries in mid-January, you’ll have to purchase berries that have been transported from someplace a good deal warmer (and further away). A better alternative is to stock up and freeze or can your own summertime strawberries and use those to appease your January berry craving! You will save money purchasing produce in season, as well.
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